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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Carex nebrascensis

Carex nebrascensis Dewey

Nebraska Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CANE2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A coarse, stout, 1-3 ft., clumpy sedge with hairy culms and a long, stout rootstock. The firm leaves are whitish-blue and do not reach as high as the 3-6 spiked terminal inflorescence.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Terminal
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period for Carex spp.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , IL , KS , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OR , PA , SD , UT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: E. WA to SD (sparingly n. to ND), s. to CA, NM & n.w. KS
Native Habitat: Wet meadows and swamps; often in alkaline situations

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Wet, often alkaline, soil or shallow water.
Conditions Comments: Can become weedy. Unlike some other moisture-loving Carex species, C. nebracensis readily tolerates dry air and intense sunlight, so long as its feet are wet.

Benefit

Use Other: Indigenous people cultivated rhizomes to use in basketry.
Interesting Foliage: yes

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Carex nebrascensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Carex nebrascensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex nebrascensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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